Martineau, Tigers breeze past Hilltoppers

FARMINGTON — Ashlyn Martineau struck out the first batter of Friday's Class M softball game, and from there she let her defense do the work.

Farmington High School's sophomore pitching ace worked economically and with full confidence in her defense. In fact, Martineau, who also knocked in the game-winning run, was so effective that she had Somersworth's batters swinging early and often, most resulting in batted outs to the solid Farmington defense. The Tigers (3-2) beat Somersworth (2-2) in a 54-minute Class M game, 3-0.

Martineau allowed three hits and walked one. At one stretch, she retired 12 batters in a row. Her first-inning two-out single to center field drove in Tabby Whitehouse with the game's first run, which also proved to be the game winner. Whitehouse reached on a single, stole second and advanced to third when the catcher's throw went into the outfield.

"We were really excited to beat these guys because this was a big game for us," Martineau said. "We had limited errors this game and usually we have more, so that was good."

Nearly as effective was Somersworth's Erica Boulanger, who did not allow an earned run. She gave up four hits, walked no one and whiffed six.

"Oh yeah, 50 minutes that's ridiculous," said Somersworth coach Katelyn Rideout of the game's quick turnaround. "I don't think we were very patient up at the plate. She's a good pitcher and she throws strikes. We weren't waiting for our pitch; we just went after the first one. I think a lot of them went up a swung at the first pitch every single time."

After Farmington took its 1-0 lead, the Hilltoppers had their best chance to tie up the score in the third. Riva Moulton singled to left and, after an out, Boulanger walked and Danielle Hardee singled to load the bases. Shadai Gosselin then lofted a flyball to center field that should have been deep enough to score the runner from third base. But Moulton was off the base and did not tag immediately. She returned to the bag and then headed for the plate. Farmington centerfielder Cassie Camire, who initially misjudged the ball and had to backpedal to make the catch, fired the ball to shortstop Maria Kuehl. Kuehl's strong relay throw to catcher Alyssa Valladares was in plenty of time to erase Moulton at the plate to complete the inning-ending double play.

"We work on that cutoff all the time," said Farmington coach Ron Howard. "It went to Maria and Maria turns around and Maria's got a nice arm. She got the ball there in plenty of time for the out."

It stayed 1-0 until the fifth when the Tigers were able to tack on two more runs. Kuehl reached on a one-out infield error and then with two outs slumping lead-off hitter Tiphanie Healey launched a long drive to center field for a triple. Kuehl came all the way around to score. Healey never slowed down and tried to score and was safe at the plate for the 3-0 lead when the relay throw was errant.

"I've been doing a little extra (batting) with my dad," Healey said. "Coming down and hitting and really working on it. ... I've been popping up and I finally got a hold of it and hit it level. Most of the reason it went so far is because (Boulanger's) pitching is so quick."

Meanwhile Martineau mowed down the Somersworth order, getting solid defense, particularly from Kuehl at shortstop (eight chances without an error), Camire in center field and Whitehouse in left. Twelve of Somersworth's outs were on balls hit in the air.

"I was trying to get it in the there because I knew the field behind me could field it for us," Martineau added.

In the top of the seventh, Somersworth's Sam Gagnon beat out a two-out bunt and advanced to second when the throw by Martineau was wild. Martineau ended the game by getting Hinchey to pop out to Healey at second base.

"She lets them hit and lets us work, you know," Healey added. "We do a lot of fielding in practice. It's really our strong point is our defense. Our hitting is coming along, but our defense is definitely our strong point."

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